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Lot

№ 55

.

15 May 2024

Hammer Price:
£100

Three: Second Lieutenant R. C. Hadfield, Manchester Regiment, later Commandant and Section Officer Auxiliary Fire Service
British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. R. C. Hadfield.); Civil Defence Long Service Medal, E.II.R., unnamed as issued, the first two mounted as worn, the last loose in Royal Mint case of issue, the Great War awards polished, these very fine, the last better

Three: Private J. Lydon, Manchester Regiment
Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (22546603 Pte. J. Lydon. Manch.) mounted for wear in the incorrect order, generally very fine and better (6) £120-£160

Reginald Charles Hadfield was born at Ashton on Mersey on 20 April 1898 and entered No. 16 Officer Cadet Battalion from Manchester Grammar School O.T.C. in 1916. On 28 March 1917 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant and was attached to the Manchester Regiment. He landed in France to join the 21st Battalion, Manchester Regiment at Courcelles on 26 May 1917, as Company Machine Gun Officer, later moving to Belgium. On 3 October the battalion moved into the line to the West of Polygon Wood, and the following day was in action at Broodseinde Ridge in an attempt to complete the capture of the Gheluveldt plateau.

Hadfield was wounded on 4 October 1917 and taken out of the line, being evacuated to England. He was promoted temporary Lieutenant on 28 September 1918 and relinquished his commission on 13 February 1920, stating his full time employment as Commandant and Auxiliary Fireman, Hale and Bowdon Joint Fire and Ambulance Committee, Hale, Cheshire. In the 1939 Register he is shown as residing at Altrincham and as Section Officer, Auxiliary Fire Brigade, which would explain the presence of the Civil Defence / Auxiliary Fire Services Medal. He died in 1975.

Sold with copied service papers and other research.